Removable fabric covered shell assembly

ABSTRACT

A REMOVABLE FABRIC COVERED SHELL ASSEMBLY FOR ATTACHMENT TO A GARMENT MATERIAL COMPRISING A FORMED SHELL INCLUDING TEETH AT THE REAR FOR ENGAGING A FABRIC ON THE SHELL, A BACKPLATE HAVING A FRONT SIDE FORMED WITH A SNAP-ON ENGAGEMENT RIDGE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE REAR OF THE TEETH OF THE SHELL FOR RELEASABLE SNAPPING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH,   AND ONE PART OF A SNAP FASTENER MEANS FORMED WITH SEWON HOLES AND HELD TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE BACKPLATE BY THREADS HOLDING THE GARMENT MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN.

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY HANS A. PRYM ATTORNEY.

H. A. PRYM REMOVABLE FABRIC COVERED SHELL ASSEMBLY Feb. 16, 1971 Filed April 17, 1969 FIG; I.

Feb. 16, 1971 H. A. PRYM REMOVABLE FABRIC COVERED SHELL ASSEMBLY Filed April 17, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rl lllfll i INVENTOR BY HANS A. PRYM ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,562,876 REMOVABLE FABRIC COVERED SHELL ASSEMBLY Hans A. Pyrm, Woodstock, Conn., assignor to William Prym, Inc, Dayville, Conn, a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 816,946 Int. Cl. A44b 1/12, 17/00 US. Cl. 24-113 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A removable fabric covered shell assembly for attachment to a garment material comprising a formed shell including teeth at the rear for engaging a fabric on the shell, a backplate having a front side formed with a snap-on engagement ridge complementary to the rear of the teeth of the shell for releasable snapping engagement therewith, and one part of a snap fastener means formed with sewon holes and held to the back side of the backplate by threads holding the garment material therebetween.

The present invention relates to fabric covered buttons and the like, in general, and to snap-on fabric covered buttons and the like, in particular.

Fabric covered detachable button assemblies, with the button shell having circumferentially arranged back teeth for removably securing fabrics thereto which cover the button, are known. As shown in US. Pat. No. 2,513,182 entitled Covered Buttons, Buckles, and the Like granted June 27, 1950, of which I am a co-inventor, these button assemblies contain a snap-on backplate closure member onto which the detachable button is snapped and which ensures locking of the fabric between the teeth of the button. However, to secure the button to a garment, another member of the assembly is used which resiliently fits into, and holds, the back hollow curved portion of the button shell and which is formed into a loop which passes through a slot in the backplate closure member. The loop, extending through the backplate slot, is sewed to a garment, thereby securing the button to the garment.

With these button assemblies three members were required. The backplate closure member rigidly, but releasably, locking onto the back of the button shell, was needed to keep the fabri hooked between the teeth of the button and locked in place, and the separate, resilient sew-on loop Was required to resiliently hold the button, and to flexibly secure the button to the garment. Accordingly, an independent rigid locking backplate member was an absolute necessity, as was an independent sew-on member. A disadvantage of this assembly is that the whole button assembly must be released when the button shell is removed from the garment. Further, with the sew-on loop button, button holes are required where the garment portions were to be closed with the button as a closure.

My co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 590,164, entitled Snap-Fastener, filed on Oct. 14, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,457,601 granted July 29, 1969 provides an improved detachable button or other form piece assembly by which the removable button or other form piece is conveniently secured to the garment by a permanent toothed gripper-fastener combination which pierces the garment. The fastener comprises therein one portion of a four-part snap fastener combination, thereby further serving as a hidden snap fastener closure combination, preferably with the fashionwise appearance of a fabric covered button closure but without button holes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a removable fabric covered shell assembly for attachment to a garment material comprising a formed shell having 3 ,562,876 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 a front portion, and having a back opening defining a purality of teeth for engaging a fabric on the teeth and covering the front portion of the formed shell therewith, a backplate means having a front side and a back side and including on the front side a snap-on engagement ridge complementary to the first teeth for snapping the fabric covered shell rigidly into engagement with the backplate about the teeth and securely locking the fabric between the first teeth, a first part of a snap fastener means adjacent the other side of the garment material and formed with a plurality of sew-on holes, the backplate means formed with a plurality of sew-0n holes identical to that of the sew-on holes of the snap-fastener means, and threads sewn through both sew-on holes of the backplate means and the snap-fastener means and through the garment material thereby securing the backplate means and the snap-fastener means jointly to the garment material.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide a removable fabric covered shell assembly for attachment to a garment in accordance with the aforementioned objective, further comprising a second part of snap-on means sewed to another portion of the garment material and adapted for snapping engagement with the first part of the snap-on fastener means eliminating button holes.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded axial sectional view of the removable fabric covered shell assembly of the present invention shown at an enlarged scale;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the female snap fastener of FIG. 1 secured to the garment by sewing, illustrated at a scale smaller than in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the backplate, as in FIG. 1 secured to the garment by sewing and illustrated at a scale smaller than in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of the removable fabric covered shell assembly of FIG. 1, with the shell snapped onto the backplate, and the snap fastener in the detached position.

Referring now to the drawings, a removable button fastener combination in accordance with the present invention comprises a shaped button shell 1, .preferably made of metal or plastic having a rear curved portion 2 defining a rear open end and having a plurality of inwardly facing resilient gripper teeth 3. The teeth 3 of the button shell 1 pierce a selected button covering fabric 4 cut to the size of the button shell 1 to hold the fabric in secure engagement thereon covering the front face 411 of the button shell 1.

The button shell 1 with its covering fabric 4 secured thereon can be releasably snapped (as shown in FIG. 4) onto an annular engagement snap-on ridge 6 formed on thefront face of a backplate means 5, which is adapted to receive the fabric covered rear curved portion 2 releasably in a radially, inwardly curved recess 6a formed in the peripheral portion of the ridge 6.

The rear face 8 of the backplate means 5 forms a flat central annular portion 8a and a flat outermost annular portion 8b. The central annular portion 8a is parallel to and in the same plane as the outermost annular portion 81;. The snap-on ridge 6 is positioned between the annular portion 812 and the flat central portion 8a. A circular, inner peripheral edge 5a of the backplate means 5 constitutes the inner periphery of the innermost annular portion 8a and forms a central axial opening through the backplate means 5, namely opening 5b.

The backplate means 5 is positioned on the outside surface of a garment 11, the latter abutting the central 3 annular portion 8a and the outermost annular portion 8b. Positioned cooperatively, against the other side of the garment 11, is one portion of a two part snap fastener means, preferably a female snap fastener means 12.

The female snap fastener means 12 has a forward pointing periperal flange 13a bent into an inwardly turned contiguous U-shaped extreme peripheral end 12b, and a central, convex shaped front surface 13b, which press against the rear of the garment 11 and are axially positioned relative the backplate means 5. The central portion of the female snap fastener means 12 forms a forwardly extending hollow projection 14 which defines at the rear a female snap fastener socket 15. An annular rear portion 12a of the female snap fastener means extends between the flange 13a and the hollow projection 14.

A plurality of sew-on holes 16, preferably four, spaced 90 apart (FIG. 2) are formed in the annular rear portion 12a of the female snap fastener means 12. A corresponding plurality of sew-on holes 17 is formed through the central portion 8a of the backplate means radially spaced from the inner peripheral edge 5a thereof.

The corresponding sew-on holes 16 and 17 of the snap fastener means 12 and of the backplate means 5, respectively, can be exactly aligned and a sewing thread (or threads) 18 is then cooperatively sewed through the aligned sew-on holes, securing the backplate means 5, the garment 11 and the female snap-fastener means 12 non-rotatably together.

In the secured position of the female snap-fastener means 12 to the backplate means 5 by the thread 18, as shown in FIG. 1, the central front surface 13b of the snap fastener means 12, i.e., the front surface of projection 14, is aligned with the central axial opening 5b of the backplate means 5. The diameter of the projection 14 as well as the front surface 13b is slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 5]), so that the central surface 13b of the snap fastener means 12 is entirely spaced radially inwardly relative the inner peripheral edge 5a of the backplate means 5. The front surface 13b is convex in shape and extends slightly beyond the extreme peripheral end 12b of the snap fastener means 12, thereby pressing the garment 11' adjacent thereto somewhat into the opening 512 of the backplate means 5, aiding the adjacent alignment of the snap fastener means 12 with the backplate means 5, and cooperatively with the sew-on thread 18 and aligned sew-on holes 16 and 17 aids the holding security of the assembly which can be readily positioned and easily connected securely merely by sewing. Axial alignment without unnecessary radial play of the members is also facilitated. The peripheral edge 12b of the snap fastener means 12 is aligned with the central annular portion 8a and presses the garment 11 thereagainst.

The sew-on holes 16 and 17 are substantially oval shaped, arc-wise, cooperating with the sewing thread 18 to provide a secure fastening. Aligned sew-on holes of both the backplate means 5 and the snap fastener means 12 are preferably threaded together as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Adjacent the snap fastener means 12 on another por tion of the garment 11a is disposed a male member 20 having a stud portion 21 adapted for releasable snapping engagement into the socket 15 of the female snap fastener means 12, the socket 15 having therein two parallel ends 1501 of a spring 15b resiliently cooperating to hold the stud portion 21 in releasable engagement in the socket 15. The male member 20 has a fiat annular portion 22 formed with sew-on holes 23 which are similar to the sew-on holes 16 of the female snap fastener means 12 and through which holes 23 sew-on thread 24 firmly secures the male snap fastener member 20 to the garment 11a.

Together the male snap fastener 20 and the female snap fastener 12 form a releasable snap fastener combination which eliminates the making of button holes, permitting the snap fastening combination closure behind the fabric covered button to be concealed by the button, allowing the snap-on button combination to be used fashionwisc. An additional feature is that the button shell 1 can be readily removed from the garment, to protect the button, when the garment is sent to a laundry or dry cleaner, and after return, it can easily be snapped on again. Also, button Styles can easily be exchanged against other styles, by simply snapping the button shell 1 off the engagement ridge 6 and replacing it with another style or fabric covered button.

In addition to fabric covered or non-covered ornamental buttons of any shape, the present invention applies equally to other decorative attachments such as buckles, bows, etc.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

1 claim:

1. A removable fabric covered shell assembly for attachment ot a garment material, comprising:

a formed shell having a front portion and a back portion having a back opening defining thereat a plurality of inwardly rounded first teeth terminating in teeth points for engaging fabric on said teeth points and covering the front portion of said formed shell therewith,

a backplate means having a front side and a back side and including on said front side a snap-on engagement ridge complementary to said inwardly rounded first teeth and spaced from said teeth points for snapping said fabric covered shell rigidly but turnably free relative said shell into detachable engagement with said backplate means about said first teeth and aiding a secure holding of said fabric on said first teeth,

said backplate means formed with a first plurality of holes therethrough,

a first snap fastener means formed with a second plurality of holes corresponding to said first plurality of holes of said backplate means, and aligned therewith, and

first threads passing through said aligned first and second plurality of holes in said backplate means and said first snap fastener means, respectively, and through said garment material securing said backplate means and said first snap fastener means jointly to said garment material.

2. The removable fabric covered shell assembly for attachment to a garment material, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second snap fastener means secured to another portion of said garment material near the first snap fastener means and constituting with the latter a snap-on means for snapping engagement with said first snap fastener means.

3. The removable fabric covered shell assembly for attachment to a garment material, as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said first snap fastener means forms a resilient female socket, and

said second snap fastener means includes a male stud for releasably snapping into said female socket.

4. The removable fabric covered shell assembly for attachment to a garment material, as set forth in claim 3, wherein.

said second snap fastener means is formed with a plurality of sew-on holes, and

second threads passing through said plurality of sew-on holes and said another portion of said garment material securing said second snap fastener means to said another portion of said garment material.

5. A snap fastener arrangement for releasably securing a fabric covered formed piece to a garment material, comprising:

a backplate having a front side and a back side and including snap-on ridge means integral with the front side of said backplate adapted for connection with a fabric covered formed piece in releasable snapping rotatable engagement therewith,

said backplate means formed with a first plurality of holes therethrough,

a first snap fastener means formed with a second plurality of holes therethrough corresponding to said first plurality of holes and aligned therewith,

first threads passing through said aligned first and second plurality of holes in said backplate means and said first snap fastener means, respectively, and through said garment material securing said backplate means and said first snap fastener means jointly to said garment material therebetween, and

said first snap fastener means including means adapted for operative snap fastening engagement with another portion of said garment material.

6. The snap fastener arrangement, as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a second snap fastener means secured to said another portion of said garment material and constituting with said first snap fastener means a cooperative snap fastener for releasable snapping engagement theretogether.

7. The snap fastener arrangement, as set forth in claim 1, h e n;

said backplate means includes as inner peripheral edge defining a central axial opening,

said first snap fastener means is formed with a forwardly directer peripheral flange having a forwardmost extreme peripheral end abutting said garment material and disposed radially inwardly relative said snap-on engagement ridge, and

said first snap fastener means includes a central forwardly extending projection of a diameter slightly less than that of said opening and having a central front surface of convex shape extending slightly beyond the extent of said extreme peripheral end pressing said garment adjacent thereto into said opening.

8. The snap fastener arrangement, as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said projection forms a hollow socket adapted for releasable snapping engagement with a male snap fastener.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,457,601 7/1969 Prym 24113 NATHAN L. MINTZ, Primary Examiner 

